After seeing a line of people gather along the sidewalk behind the new restaurant Amelie night after night, I had to see what the excitement was about. Located in Fairfax, Amelie is a new French bistro serving up eccentric dishes.

Amelie is located between Live Water Surf Shop and Bank of America in Fairfax. The new bistro recently opened this spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic, offering an outdoor patio for their customers. 

Upon my arrival at Amelie, I was greeted by a waiter with a french accent. The smell of fresh baked bread and the lively atmosphere made me feel as though I was walking into a restaurant in Paris. After a short while, I was shown to a table on their outdoor patio decorated with plant arrangements and heat lamps. 

The ambiance of the restaurant was very welcoming. There were many people dining or waiting in line to receive a table, so I recommend making reservations ahead of time because a wait is likely.

The menu was easy to read and included a lot of unique dishes. However, the prices were more on the expensive side. The waiters were extremely friendly and overall made the experience more enjoyable. 

I started off by ordering the homemade baguette with a side of butter seasoned with salt, pepper, and chives which was $5.00. As the bread was torn open, a cloud of steam floated out from the inside. The bread was still warm and made the butter melt instantly. 

As an appetizer, I ordered the onion dip with marinated turnips and crostinis which was $8.00. The onion dip resembled the flavor of french onion soup and was a great contrast with the tangy, pickled turnips. The crostini was golden brown and crunchy. 

The only problem I had with this dish was the lack of onion dip on the plate. This caused me to run out before I finished my crostinis. Although the flavors were delicious, the portion of the dip was too small, which left me with the need for more food. 

I ordered the Amelie Cheeseburger for my main meal which was $18.00. It was served on a golden brown brioche bun with spicy aioli, cheddar cheese, pickles, onion, and lettuce. I ordered the burger to be cooked medium and it came out beautifully. It was juicy and the perfect shade of pink. On the side, there was a serving of roasted potato wedges and more spicy aioli. 

 As soon as I heard about the chocolate layer cake, I had to order it. The homemade cake was $7.50 and consisted of many layers of fluffy cake between layers of rich, dark chocolate. Each bite was delicious and it was an amazing way to end an amazing meal. 

Overall, I had a wonderful time at Amelie. Their food was delicious and the staff was extremely friendly. The cute patio and seating arrangements lead to a great outdoor dining experience. Amelie is the perfect unique addition to the town of Fairfax.  

Rating: 4.8/5